The Pirates are staggering toward the All-Star break, suffering another loss to the Dodgers last night despite the return of Ke’Bryan Hayes to the lineup. Joe Block recaps the game.
Manager Derek Shelton says LA starter Julio Urias was a handful.
Shelton says the Bucs didn’t handle Dodgers stars Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts very well.
After dropping three out of four games against the Dodgers, the Pirates will try their luck with the Diamondbacks, who lead LA by a half-game in the NL West. Pirates lefthander Rich Hill [7-8, 4.50 ERA] faces D-Backs All-Star righthander Zac Gallen [10-3, 3.15 ERA]. It’s a 9:15 airtime, 9:40 first pitch in Phoenix.
With Ke’Bryan Hayes activated from the injured list, the Pirates demoted Roansy Contreras to Indianapolis yesterday.
With Luis Ortiz optioned to Indy earlier this week, the Bucs will need a starter for Sunday’s game, but it won’t be Quinn Priester. The 2019 first round draft choice pitched last night for Indianapolis, going seven-and-a-third innings and giving up two runs with no decision in a 3-2 walkoff win over Memphis. Miguel Andujar’s sacrifice fly scored the game-winner in the ninth.
The first round of the Major League Baseball draft is on Sunday, and the Pirates have the first pick. In his latest mock draft, MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo has the Bucs taking LSU pitcher Paul Skenes over his LSU teammate, outfielder Dylan Crews. Mayo, though, hints that the Bucs could take Florida slugging outfielder Wyatt Langford and save some money on him so they could spend it on other picks later in the draft.
The All-Star Futures Game is tomorrow night in Seattle and the Pirates will have two representatives there, Indianapolis catcher Endy Rodriguez and Greensboro pitcher J.P. Massey. Interestingly, Rodriguez is listed as in infielder, not a catcher for the National League team. Massey was the Pirates’ seventh round draft choice just last year. He’s 4-4 with a 3.45 ERA this season.
ALTOONA CURVE
Erie’s Diego Rincones clubbed a two-run bomb in the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie and win for the SeaDogs in Altoona last night. Anthony Solometo got the start but struggled for the Curve, giving up three runs in the fourth inning after limiting Erie to just one hit through the first three. Lolo Sanchez had two hits, including a double, for the Curve.
Aaron Shortridge takes the mound for Altoona tonight.
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